In the Garden of Eden, I am confident there were no squirrels, deer, rabbits or groundhogs – otherwise Adam and Eve wouldn’t have had a garden to tend – only stubble. Or maybe the Lord arranged for a large cage surrounding the garden – like I have now.
I am pleased to say that every pea I planted has sprouted and is still in place. Every stalk of lettuce, every squash leaf, every baby tomato plant – Yea Lord – everything I have planted has gone undisturbed and I am loving life. Gardening is once more enjoyable.
Last year, I just about tossed in my garden spade. It was so discouraging to see tender bean sprouts cut to the ground. The rabbits even chewed up a volunteer watermelon that had popped up. And within hours after each planting, squirrels came, dug and conquered. To hell with that.
Let there be a cage, I said, and there was and is a cage. And though we spent a good bit of the children’s inheritance, the cage has done its job.
This week I am actually going to put in a couple rows or Fordhook Limas – which wouldn’t have had a prayer with all the rabbits around. And I found some Dwarf Okra seeds. I got them started in pots and they are now ready for the garden. Dwarf okra is supposed to stay small. My Clemson Spineless okra grew so tall I needed a step ladder to harvest.
It’s been a good growing season so far, with occasional rains and mild temperatures. My young plants appear happy. I think, when all said and done, I will have had a good garden this summer.
Thank you, Deer Busters, for providing the steel, wire and parts to keep the varmints out. Sorry about spending your inheritance, kids, but it was worth every penny.